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German president won't seek second term

Xinhua, June 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

German President Joachim Gauck announced Monday that he would not run for a second five-year term in 2017.

"I have decided not to once again stand for the presidential office," Gauck said in an official announcement at noon on Monday, adding that this decision was not easy for him.

Gauck, who is 76, was elected as the country's head of state in March 2012, when his predecessor Christian Wulff was forced to quit over corruption allegations.

Germany's presidential post is more ceremonial than executive, giving direction to general political and societal debates. Endi